New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-24
CATCHING THE BOAT
AN EVERYDAY SCENE N wysT-sr.

It was n sultry afternoon when TRIBUNE reporter
was walking slowly up West-st, wondering wha0
could induce anybody to do anything In such we"Icr
and wishing that something would happen TO rcvVe
his spirts which were slowly dropping under inc
burning rays OF the July sun, when the loud Changing
Of steamboat bell made him resolve TO watch tho
departure OF those fortunate than himself oven
IL he could not 20 with thom ~ NewEngland whltho
the boat bound.
ALI was hustle and confusion at tho pier Trunks
and boxes Of all sizes and kinds were being hurried
OH board the steamer che impaiienty churned tho
muddy water into a mass Of white foam and quiverod
in every beam she strained a. tho great ropes
which bound her firmly 10 tho wharf People were
nurryng on and OF as the reporter stood near tho
gangplank and watched the cverchansing scene.
Judging from the hustle and fuss In progress ono
wull1 think that all York was going on tho
boat In fact a larger number than usual WAS going
OIL board, for every seemed anxious to exchange
the hot, sitting air OF the city for tho cool, fresh
county breezes Here comes typical Yankee, long
legged and loose boned, tightly oluching worn grip
sack with one hand and wiping his pefsrirng TACO
with the other no settled down from tho halfca
in which he had been indu,gDg Into slow walk, and
calculated:
avail, 1 declares I've got the boat after all" lie
was going back to aVct'y," no explained to the 10
porter, and had come down to sec his bfother who
, S to work %,s no' Ss p aDSso 0 naa
"AI aboard !" shouts the captain, and the plank for
for passengers Just at that moment cab Is huredly
driven up on the per, ami young man clad In a
tennis suit and graspIng big cane and small bundle
DIOR of the carriage while no called out 10 the captain
"Stop her a minute"
"wen, hurry upi don't stand there In front OF
tho door," yeIs back the captain good natu1edy, and
the youth steps aside far enough 10 allow two young
girls with their full Of bundles 10 aigM.
"Hole comes two more shouts the agent as two
women como rushing fIantcay down tho per- waving
their packages in the air just the gang plank was
dangling IN md-ar Again IL was lowoIei, and upon II
the rushed, only TO stop I'm tbs middle OF IL
while ono informed the captain that her husband
hadn't come yet, and the other wanted to know
whether her trunk had been checked "clear through
10 Boston," and who had the check Just then tho
husband appeared in the distance meanderlng along
toward the ioat as IL ho had the whole day before him
Al last no seemed TO understand tho SIGNALS that were
franticaly made TO him. and then no showed tina,
he could run. He lost his hat, but no got thero Just
in time. The captain told the woman that tho trunk
was "all right" and again the plank was lifted.
"TwO more" tho cry Is again raisoi, a. man with
- big basket and woman with a baby were seen In
Guging in a sort OF "hp-hip" along Wcst-st half
n block away. But II too late. for tho ropes had
been cast OF and tfe boat, free from all restraint
quickly gIided out from her slip into the strenm
though sho glad 10 leave her hot homo for tho
cooler waters OF tho Sound IA the reporter stood
watching the rctrcating vessel the and woman
came to the spot tho woman one length ahead
and bath ontroly out Of breath. They watched the
boat moment and then turned and l0ohcd rcproach-
fully at each other and walked slowly away.